Watching Yukinoshita’s gaze grow colder by the second, Shizuka Hiratsuka finally realized something was amiss.
Wait a minute, how did I somehow end up getting swept along by Hiroto Tachibana’s rhythm?
But then again, seeing Yukinoshita look like this was actually quite entertaining.
No wonder Haruno loved teasing her so much.
Hiratsuka stood up and clapped her hands.
”Let’s go, let’s go.
Sensei will treat you to lunch first, otherwise there won’t be any seats left later.”
The group rose and walked out.
Along the way, Hiratsuka didn’t forget to soothe Yukinoshita’s mood, while conveniently offering her a chance to strike back at Hiroto.
”Yukinoshita, since Hiroto is your club assignment, looking at him like this…
what kind of hairstyle do you think suits him?
When I take him out for dinner tonight, we can stop by and get it cut.”
Yukinoshita Yukino paused in her tracks, sizing Hiroto up from head to toe.
Her gaze swept across his hair, and the corner of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
”In that case, how about a buzz cut?” she said flatly, as if merely stating a fact.
”After all, there is no hairstyle more unsightly than his current one.
To cut it to this level…
I deeply question the barber’s professional competence.”
Hiroto responded without changing his expression, “Well, there was no barber.
I cut it myself.”
Yukinoshita shot him a glance, her expression completely devoid of any fluctuation.
”Very well.
Then I deeply question your competence.”
Hiratsuka stifled a laugh beside them.
The three of them arrived at the cafeteria.
The moment Yukinoshita Yukino appeared, she instantly drew the attention of quite a few people.
However, they only watched from afar, whispering among themselves; no one dared to approach.
Yukinoshita completely ignored these glances, her pace remaining unchanged.
The cafeteria was at peak capacity, bustling with a dense crowd, and almost every table was packed with people.
Fortunately, with such a massive volume of students, the turnover was quick, and they soon found an empty table in a corner.
The three sat down.
”Order whatever you want, it’s on Sensei,” Hiratsuka waved her hand grandly, acting quite generous.
Hiroto didn’t stand on ceremony.
He immediately stood up, grabbed a bottle of cola, opened it with a crisp pop, and took a swig first.
Yukinoshita was just about to point out that drinking such things would not only lead to weight gain but also worsen one’s skin.
But just as the words reached her lips, she caught a glimpse of Hiroto’s current complexion and swallowed her words back down.
A question surfaced in her mind.
She hadn’t paid too much attention earlier, but looking closely now, how had his skin and energy level improved so drastically?
He had clearly looked like someone suffering from severe sleep deprivation just a while ago.
Yukinoshita discreetly withdrew her gaze, choosing not to ask.
Hiratsuka pulled out her meal card, intending to hand it to Hiroto.
Hiroto waved his hand in refusal.
Hiratsuka was stunned.
Did this kid change his stripes?
”It’s better if you help me get the food, Hiratsuka-sensei.”
”Although I’ve never eaten here, I’ve heard the cafeteria ladies’ hands often tremble when serving.
If you go, Hiratsuka-sensei…
it might be a lot better.”
Hiratsuka’s mouth twitched.
She wanted to say she didn’t care about that pocket change at all, but on second thought, she was a teacher and needed to keep a low profile.
”Fine,” she withdrew her card and prepared to stand up.
”Hiratsuka-sensei.”
Yukinoshita Yukino spoke up.
Hiratsuka turned her head to look at her.
”My concern aligns with Tachibana-kun’s,” Yukinoshita said, her hands resting properly on her knees, sitting perfectly upright.
“I’ll have to trouble you, Hiratsuka-sensei.”
Hiratsuka looked at Hiroto, then back at Yukinoshita.
She wasn’t sure how much a teenage boy like Hiroto could eat.
But Yukinoshita?
This was pure, unadulterated retaliation.
The two of them sat there on her left and right—one drinking cola, the other sitting up straight with perfect posture—displaying a synchronization that looked as if it had been rehearsed in advance.
Hiratsuka took a deep breath.
She suddenly regretted offering to treat them to this meal.
After Hiratsuka-sensei left, only the two of them remained at the table.
Originally, if it were just Yukinoshita alone in the cafeteria, it would have merely drawn a few curious glances.
But right now, a boy was sitting directly across from her.
Hostility, envy, curiosity…
all sorts of glances filled with contrasting emotions poured over from various corners of the cafeteria.
Yukinoshita, however, was indifferent to these stares.
She lifted her head, looking toward Hiroto.
Coincidentally, Hiroto happened to be looking at her as well.
With this lifting of heads, their gazes locked.
Hiroto spoke first, “Worried that rumors will spread about me, thereby causing a negative impact?”
He behaviorally gestured with his hands, “No need to worry, my situation can’t get any worse than it already is.”
”Is that so?” Yukinoshita tilted her head slightly.
”You have a very clear understanding of your own ecological niche.
However, for Tachibana-kun to actually think I would worry about you?
That can only be considered your own wishful thinking.”
”I think it’s perfectly natural for someone who likes me to worry about me, isn’t it?” Hiroto said, his face unchanging.
”Besides, I’ve already said it—beneath your icy exterior, Yukinoshita, lies a gentle side.” He added a line, “Of course, this is based on my own observations.”
Yukinoshita Yukino was used to being stared at, and she was used to handling matters calmly.
But at this moment, she actually felt a wave of discomfort.
Furthermore, she didn’t think she was gentle in the slightest.
She was just about to voice her thoughts when Yumiko Miura’s stubborn voice echoed from nearby.
”No way, there are no seats anywhere else.
I want to sit here.”
”Someone is already sitting there, it’ll empty out soon.
Let’s wait for a bit first,” Hayato Hayama’s voice followed immediately after.
Yumiko Miura frequently wanted to compete with Yukinoshita at school.
Although she could be considered a prominent normie in her own right, compared to Yukinoshita, she lacked a certain natural charm.
In terms of appearance, Yumiko was indeed attractive, but Yukinoshita was simply a cut above.
As for other aspects, there was absolutely no comparison.
Everyone in their small clique knew this.
Seeing Yukinoshita sitting here, Hayato Hayama and the others subconsciously wanted to avoid a conflict, which was why they urged Yumiko not to head over.
But this conversely triggered Yumiko’s rebellious streak.
No matter what, she insisted on sitting here today.
Not only did she want to sit, but she wanted to sit right next to Yukinoshita.
Seeing that the matter was escalating and they couldn’t stop her, the group had no choice but to compromise.
In the crowd, Marin Kitagawa had originally wanted to offer a few words of advice as well.
No matter what, Yumiko was her friend, and she wanted to avoid this kind of clash.
But as her gaze drifted across—she didn’t just see Yukinoshita Yukino…
She also saw Hiroto Tachibana sitting directly opposite her.
Marin’s steps froze.
Her gaze locked onto that direction, momentarily at a loss as to whether she should step forward or retreat.
Standing frozen in place, Marin’s mind turned into a chaotic mess.
No wonder he didn’t come to the classroom at noon…
And now he’s actually sitting together with Yukinoshita.
Could it be that Yukinoshita invited him?
The moment she thought of this, a surge of irritation welled up in her heart.
In an inexplicable way, she couldn’t even put a finger on what this feeling truly was.
While she was hesitating, the group had already walked over.
”Um…
can we sit here?
Yukinoshita-san,” Yui Yuigahama asked with her hands pressed together, a beaming smile on her face.
”The cafeteria is not my private property,” Yukinoshita replied without even raising her head.
“If you wish to sit, please suit yourselves.”
”Awesome, thank you, Yukinoshita-san!”
Yumiko Miura deliberately avoided looking at Yukinoshita, walking over with the intention of sitting right next to her.
But Yui Yuigahama had already noticed this; taking a preemptive step, she flopped her seat right beside Yukinoshita.
Just like that, Yui Yuigahama ended up sandwiched right between Yumiko Miura and Yukinoshita.
Hayato Hayama first asked for Hiroto’s permission, and only after receiving a nod did he take a seat beside him.
Marin Kitagawa stood in place, glancing at the available space on the table.
Right now, the only empty spot left was next to Hiroto Tachibana.
She felt a hint of regret in her heart; she was the one who had suggested coming to the cafeteria to eat, so if she turned around and left right now, wouldn’t it look like she had something to hide?
Left with no choice.
She walked over uncomfortably and sat down next to Hiroto.
Since it was a standard eight-person table, a fair amount of distance remained between the two of them, so they weren’t sitting too close.
Seeing Marin take her seat, Tobe Kakeru—who had been waiting for her to sit down—had his eyes light up.
He hurriedly tried to squeeze into the space between them.
A hand extended outward, blocking the seat.
”Excuse me,” Hiroto said without even lifting his head.
“Someone is sitting here.
Go find somewhere else.”
The smile on Tobe Kakeru’s face instantly froze.